Poseidon Med II technical workshop at Igoumenitsa Port , 5-6/5/2016
Examining alternative ways to LNG bunkering operations in Igoumenitsa Port, during Poseidon Med II technical workshop
Poseidon Med II technical workshop was held in Igoumenitsa Port, on 5th & 6th May 2016, focused on LNG bunkering operations, technology, infrastructure, safety provisions, and regulatory framework.
Local stakeholders –port authority, coast guard – along with the project partners were gathered together, under the scope of the workshop, to undertake effective Hazard Identification Study and Risk Assessment for feasible types of bunkering operations at Igoumenitsa Port.
“With Poseidon Med II, Igoumenitsa Port moves towards the LNG era, offering a safer, commercially available, environmental friendly fuel for shipping operators; additionally, Igoumenitsa Port plays a key role for creating the basis for sustainable energy development at North-Western Greece”, highlighted Thanos Koliopulos, LR Global Special Projects Manager, who chaired the workshop.
The workshop began with on-site survey of Igoumenitsa Port area, discussing the feasible scenarios for LNG bunkering operations and potential appropriate sites within the port.
During the workshop, through the active contribution of 30 participants, significant issues were critically evaluated, like safety zones, supply and storage issues, relevant infrastructure, simultaneous operations, specifications of bunkering barges and their impact in the port traffic operation, crew competencies etc. During discussion, Mr Thanos Koliopulos presented existing international expertise based on similar developments at foreign ports.
Each workshop participant provided input for the identification of operational matters and resultant consequences, together with short-term and long-term solutions, safeguards and mitigating measures as well as setting the keypoints for the site preliminary studies. A list of areas for further action and assessment was developed and this is to be further detailed by the project partners.
“Igoumenitsa Port Authority, through the participation to EU project Poseidon Med II, responds to the international environmental requirements and the instigating demand of LNG as the new marine fuel. The project outcomes will offer a competitive advantage for the Port of Igoumenitsa”, underlined Mr Andreas Ntais, President and CEO of Igoumenitsa Port Authority.
Similar technical workshops will take place to other ports of Poseidon Med II project, the following months.
POSEIDON MED II is a key European project designing the legislative and market prerequisites for the use of LNG as a marine fuel in the Eastern Mediterranean. Through targeted sustainable infrastructure planning it supports the development of a value-chain and supply network generating demand and contributing to international regulations for a more sustainable maritime sector.
POSEIDON MED II, which is the continuation of POSEIDON MED and ARCHIPELAGO LNG Projects, is co-financed by the “Connecting Europe Facilities” and will run for until 2020. It is a cross border project involving 26 partners from 3 Member Stated – Greece, Italy and Cyprus – with an ultimate target to make LNG available in 6 core ports; Piraeus, Patras, Heraklion, Igoumenitsa, Venice and Limassol.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
